Dear Museum Friends,

As I reflect on the past year, I am struck by Boston Children’s Museum’s remarkable ability to honor its traditions, while continually evolving to better serve children and families. This has been a year of innovation, growth, and preparation for an exciting new chapter in the Museum’s history.

It is also a year of leadership transition. This summer, we celebrate the extraordinary tenure of Carole Charnow, who will retire after 16 years as President and CEO. Under Carole’s leadership, Boston Children’s Museum has strengthened its position as one of the country’s most beloved cultural and educational institutions, expanding its impact on children, families, educators, and communities across Massachusetts and beyond. Her vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment to learning through play have helped ensure that generations of children can explore, discover, and thrive. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I offer our deepest gratitude for Carole’s remarkable leadership and lasting contributions to our mission.

As we thank Carole for all she has accomplished, we are equally excited to welcome Melissa Higgins as the Museum’s ninth President and CEO this fall. Melissa’s longstanding leadership at Boston Children’s Museum, most recently as Vice President of Programs and Exhibits, has helped shape many of the experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and learning for our visitors every day. She brings deep institutional knowledge, a passion for innovation, and a clear vision for the future. We look forward with great confidence and enthusiasm to the Museum’s next chapter under her leadership.

This year, we were proud to enhance the visitor experience with the opening of our new imaginative play exhibit, Dream It! Build It! We also refreshed several beloved exhibits, including Investigate and Countdown to Kindergarten, and introduced Infant Nooks throughout the Museum to ensure that families with children of different ages can learn and play together in every space.

Extending our impact beyond our walls remains central to our mission. We know how important early learning experiences are in preparing children for success in school and in life. Through our partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, we expanded access to learning kits, educator training, and other resources in 80 cities and towns across the Commonwealth. We were also excited to launch a new initiative supporting family child care providers, helping us reach even more children and families where they live and learn.

This year also marked an important investment in the Museum’s future. We launched a major resilience initiative to protect our historic waterfront building and surrounding neighborhood from the risks of flooding and sea-level rise. Thanks to the generosity and collaboration of donors, civic leaders, designers, engineers, staff, and trustees, we secured the funding necessary to begin this critical three-phase project. The work ahead will help ensure that Boston Children’s Museum remains a safe, welcoming, and vibrant resource for generations to come.

While we embrace new opportunities, we remain committed to the experiences that generations of families have cherished. We hope you will visit soon and experience all that makes Boston Children’s Museum such a special place.

Thank you for your continued support of our mission and the children and families we serve. Together, we are building on a strong foundation while creating an even brighter future.

Warm regards,

David Healy
Chair, Board of Trustees